Magic Item Crafting Rules: Difference between revisions

From Epic Path
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(203 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
''Go back to [[ Reese's Campaign ]] page.''
[[Category:Epic Path]]
[[Category:Magic Item Creation]]
[[Image:Treasure.png|484px|right|"Nope," said the rogue, "that room was completely empty."]]




== Magic Item Creation ==
==Magic Item Pricing==
 
If you want to buy an item that isn't listed on the Epic Path page (such as something listed on d20pfsrd), you must first get GM approval for the item. If it is approved, use the following pricing model, based on the caster level of the item.
To create magic items, spellcasters use special feats which allow them to invest time and money in an item's creation. At the end of this process, the spellcaster must make a single skill check (usually Spellcraft, but sometimes another skill) to finish the item. If an item type has multiple possible skills, you choose which skill to make the check with. The DC to create a magic item is 5 + the caster level for the item. Failing this check means that the item does not function and the materials and time are wasted. Failing this check by 5 or more results in a cursed item.
 
Note that all items have prerequisites in their descriptions. These prerequisites must be met for the item to be created. Most of the time, they take the form of spells that must be known by the item's creator (although access through another magic item or spellcaster is allowed). The DC to create a magic item increases by 5 for each prerequisite the caster does not meet. The only exception to this is the requisite item creation feat, which is mandatory. In addition, you cannot create potions, spell-trigger, or spell-completion magic items without meeting its prerequisites.
 
While item creation costs are handled in detail below, note that normally the two primary factors are the caster level of the creator and the level of the spell or spells put into the item. A creator can create an item at a lower caster level than her own, but never lower than the minimum level needed to cast the needed spell. Using metamagic feats, a caster can place spells in items at a higher level than normal.
 
Magic supplies for items are always half of the base price in gp. For many items, the market price equals the base price. Armor, shields, weapons, and items with value independent of their magically enhanced properties add their item cost to the market price. The item cost does not influence the base price (which determines the cost of magic supplies), but it does increase the final market price.
 
In addition, some items cast or replicate spells with costly material components. For these items, the market price equals the base price plus an extra price for the spell component costs. The cost to create these items is the magic supplies cost plus the costs for the components. Descriptions of these items include an entry that gives the total cost of creating the item.
 
The creator also needs a fairly quiet, comfortable, and well-lit place in which to work. Any place suitable for preparing spells is suitable for making items. Creating an item requires 8 hours of work per 1,000 gp in the item's base price (or fraction thereof), with a minimum of at least 8 hours. Potions and scrolls are an exception to this rule; they can take as little as 2 hours to create (if their base price is 250 gp or less). Scrolls and potions whose base price is more than 250 gp, but less than 1,000 gp, take 8 hours to create, just like any other magic item. The character must spend the gold at the beginning of the construction process. Regardless of the time needed for construction, a caster can create no more than one magic item per day. This process can be accelerated to 4 hours of work per 1,000 gp in the item's base price (or fraction thereof) by increasing the DC to create the item by 5.
 
The caster can work for up to 8 hours each day. He cannot rush the process by working longer each day, but the days need not be consecutive, and the caster can use the rest of his time as he sees fit. If the caster is out adventuring, he can devote 4 hours each day to item creation, although he nets only 2 hours' worth of work. This time is not spent in one continuous period, but rather during lunch, morning preparation, and during watches at night. If time is dedicated to creation, it must be spent in uninterrupted 4-hour blocks. This work is generally done in a controlled environment, where distractions are at a minimum, such as a laboratory or shrine. Work that is performed in a distracting or dangerous environment nets only half the amount of progress (just as with the adventuring caster).
 
A character can work on only one item at a time. If a character starts work on a new item, all materials used on the under-construction item are wasted.
 
 
== Adding New Abilities ==
 
Sometimes, lack of funds or time make it impossible for a magic item crafter to create the desired item from scratch. Fortunately, it is possible to enhance or build upon an existing magic item. Only time, gold, and the various prerequisites required of the new ability to be added to the magic item restrict the type of additional powers one can place.
 
The cost to add additional abilities to an item is the same as if the item was not magical, less the value of the original item. Thus, a +1 longsword can be made into a +2 vorpal longsword, with the cost to create it being equal to that of a +2 vorpal sword minus the cost of a +1 longsword.
 
If the item is one that occupies a specific place on a character's body, the cost of adding any additional ability to that item increases by 50%. For example, if a character adds the power to confer invisibility to her ring of protection 2, the cost of adding this ability is the same as for creating a ring of invisibility multiplied by 1.5.
 
 
== Magic Item Gold Piece Values ==
 
Many factors must be considered when determining the price of new magic items. The easiest way to come up with a price is to compare the new item to an item that is already priced, using that price as a guide. Otherwise, use the guidelines summarized on Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values.
 
The correct way to price an item is by comparing its abilities to similar items (see Magic Item Gold Piece Values), and only if there are no similar items should you use the pricing formulas to determine an approximate price for the item. If you discover a loophole that allows an item to have an ability for a much lower price than is given for a comparable item, the GM should require using the price of the item, as that is the standard cost for such an effect. Most of these loopholes stem from trying to get unlimited uses per day of a spell effect from the "command word" or "use-activated or continuous" lines of Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values.
 


:: Example: Rob's cleric wants to create a heavy mace with a continuous true strike ability, granting its wielder a +20 insight bonus on attack rolls. The formula for a continuous spell effect is spell level × caster level × 2,000 gp, for a total of 2,000 gp (spell level 1, caster level 1). Jessica, the GM, points out that a +5 enhancement bonus on a weapon costs 50,000 gp, and the +20 bonus from true strike is much better than the +5 bonus from standard weapon enhancement, and suggests a price of 200,000 gp for the mace. Rob agrees that using the formula in this way is unreasonable and decides to craft a +1 heavy mace using the standard weapon pricing rules instead.
Exceptions:
* Any item which grants armor class costs double the listed value for its caster level.
* Any item which grants a bonus to-hit costs quadruple the listed value for its caster level.
* Any slotless item costs triple the listed value for its caster level.
* You cannot buy any item from another site/source that already exists on the Epic Path page.


:: Example: Patrick's wizard wants to create bracers with a continuous mage armor ability, granting the wearer a +4 armor bonus to AC. The formula indicates this would cost 2,000 gp (spell level 1, caster level 1). Jessica reminds him that bracers of armor +4 are priced at 16,000 gp and Patrick's bracers should have that price as well. Patrick agrees, and because he only has 2,000 gp to spend, he decides to spend 1,000 gp of that to craft bracers of armor +1 using the standard bracer prices.
All of this is a stop-gap until the magic items on the Epic Path page have been built up to the point where we can safely say you cannot buy anything from other sites/sources.


Some new items are really existing magic items with a different weapon or armor type, such as a dagger of venom that is a rapier instead of a dagger or a lion's shield that's a wooden shield instead of a metal shield. For these items, just replace the price of the non-magical masterwork item with the cost of the new type of item. For example, a rapier of venom has a price of 8,320 gp instead of the dagger of venom's price of 8,302 gp.
:: {| class="ep-default" style="text-align:center"
 
 
== Cooperative Crafting ==
 
If you need another character to supply one of an item's requirements (such as if you're a wizard creating an item with a divine spell), both you and the other character must be present for the entire duration of the crafting process. If the GM is using the downtime system, both you and the other character must use downtime at the same time for this purpose. Only you make the skill check to complete the item — or, if there is a chance of creating a cursed item, the GM makes the check in secret.
 
If the second character is providing a spell effect, that character's spell is expended for the day, just as if you were using one of your own spells for a requirement. If the second character is a hired NPC, you must pay for the NPC's spellcasting service for each day of the item creation.
; Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Effect || Base Price || Example
|-
|-
! Ability bonus (enhancement)
! Width="80" | Caster Level || Width="100" | Cost
| Bonus squared x 1,000 gp || Belt of incredible dexterity 2
|-
|-
! Armor bonus (enhancement)
| 1 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=2-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 1,000 gp || +1 chainmail
|-
|-
! Bonus spell
| || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=4-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level squared x 1,000 gp || Pearl of power
|-
|-
! AC bonus (deflection)
| 3  || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=6-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 2,000 gp || Ring of protection 3
|-
|-
! AC bonus (other)<sup>1</sup>
| 4  || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=8-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 2,500 gp || Ioun stone (dusty rose prism)
|-
|-
! Natural armor bonus (enhancement)
| 5  || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=10-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 2,000 gp || Amulet of natural armor 1
|-
|-
! Save bonus (resistance)
| || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=12-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 1,000 gp || Cloak of resistance 5
|-
|-
! Save bonus (other)<sup>1</sup>
| 7  || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=14-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 2,000 gp || Stone of good luck
|-
|-
! Skill bonus (competence)
| || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=16-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Bonus squared x 100 gp || Cloak of elvenkind
|-
|-
! Spell resistance
| || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=18-25 }} * 2}}}}
| 10,000 gp per point over SR 12; SR 13 minimum || Mantle of spell resistance
|-
! Weapon bonus (enhancement)
| Bonus squared x 2,000 gp || +1 longsword
|}
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Spell Effect || Base Price || Example
|-
|-
! Single use, spell completion
| 10 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=20-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level x caster level x 25 gp || Scroll of haste
|-
|-
! Single use, use-activated
| 11 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=22-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level x caster level x 50 gp || Potion of cure light wounds
|-
|-
! 50 charges, spell trigger
| 12 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=24-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level x caster level x 750 gp || Wand of fireball
|-
|-
! Command word
| 13 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=26-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level x caster level x 1,800 gp || Cape of the mountebank
|-
|-
! Use-activated or continuous
| 14 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=28-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Spell level x caster level x 2,000 gp<sup>2</sup> || Lantern of revealing
|}
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Special || Base Price || Adjustment Example
|-
|-
! Charges per day
| 15 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=30-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Divide by (5 divided by charges per day) || Boots of teleportation
|-
|-
! No space limitation<sup>3</sup>
| 16 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=31-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Multiply entire cost by 2 || Ioun stone
|-
|-
! Multiple different abilities
| 17 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=32-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Multiply lower item cost by 1.5  || Helm of brilliance
|-
|-
! Charged (50 charges)
| 18 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=33-25 }} * 2}}}}
| 1/2 unlimited use base price || Ring of the ram
|}
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Component || Extra Cost || Example
|-
|-
! Armor, shield, or weapon
| 19 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=34-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Add cost of masterwork item || +1 composite longbow
|-
|-
! Spell has material component cost
| 20 || align="right" | {{#number_format: {{#expr: {{Magic-Item-Adjusted-Price|transcludesection=35-25 }} * 2}}}}
| Add directly into price of item per charge<sup>4</sup> || Wand of stoneskin
|}
|}


* Spell Level: A 0-level spell is half the value of a 1st-level spell for determining price.
==Who Can Create Magic Items?==
* <sup>1</sup> Such as a luck, insight, sacred, or profane bonus.
In Epic Path, any character who has the skills, talents, and resources may create magic items.
* <sup>2</sup> If a continuous item has an effect based on a spell with a duration measured in rounds, multiply the cost by 4. If the duration of the spell is 1 minute/level, multiply the cost by 2, and if the duration is 10 minutes/level, multiply the cost by 1.5. If the spell has a 24-hour duration or greater, divide the cost in half.
* <sup>3</sup> An item that does not take up one of the spaces on a body costs double.
* <sup>4</sup> If item is continuous or unlimited, not charged, determine cost as if it had 100 charges. If it has some daily limit, determine as if it had 50 charges.


*The Paladin praying before an altar, literally sweating blood from the force of her faithful devotion?  She's making that amulet with her Divinity.
*The Fighter crisping at an anvil as he welds honest steel to dragon claws in a fire fueled by an elemental? He can use his Warfare for this job.
*The Ranger standing in a forgotten grotto, singing as she weaves a cloak out of dryad hair and assassin-vines?  She's using Naturalism.
*The Rogue hiding in a bell tower, stealing chimes from the Great Bell to power her new Chime of Opening?  That's Spycraft she's using to steal that magic.
*The Monk meditating under a waterfall, infusing his Gauntlets with the pounding might of the plunging river?  He's using his Reason to capture that power.
*And yes, that Wizard casting spells in his tower as he labors over dusty tomes of lore?  He's using boring old Spellcraft to get the job done.


Multiple Similar Abilities: For items with multiple similar abilities that don't take up space on a character's body, use the following formula: Calculate the price of the single most costly ability, then add 75% of the value of the next most costly ability, plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities.
They're ALL making things, and there's nothing any more or less magical about any of these methods of production.


Multiple Different Abilities: Abilities such as an attack roll bonus or saving throw bonus and a spell-like function are not similar, and their values are simply added together to determine the cost. For items that take up a space on a character's body, each additional power not only has no discount but instead has a 50% increase in price.
==Pre-Built Magic Items==
Numerous pre-built magic items exist in Epic Path.  The costs for these magic items is listed in each item's writeup, as are the costs and requirements for a character with the Creator Feat to build one of those items for themselves. Doing so costs the character some time in-game, which is time they cannot adventure or do other activities, but they can save a considerable amount of coin.  Whether this is worth it to you depends upon the game, and we encourage all players and Game Masters to explore as many styles of play as they wish.


0-Level Spells: When multiplying spell levels to determine value, 0-level spells should be treated as 1/2 level.
== Upgrading Existing Items ==
It is certainly true that getting a new, shiny item is a thrill.  Many players greatly enjoy getting or making brand new magic items.  There are also players who like their existing items.  They have built back-story into an item, and it is now a part of the lore of their character.  A classic example is the heirloom sword, passed down for generations, that the character has sworn to use.  Sadly, that +2 Scimitar with the fancy engraving that was so awesome and overpowered at level 4, is seeming a little...under-performing at level 14.  Is the story-builder player just out of luck, stuck with an increasingly weaker weapon as they continue their career?


Other Considerations: Once you have a cost figure, reduce that number if either of the following conditions applies:
Of course not!


Item Requires Skill to Use: Some items require a specific skill to get them to function. This factor should reduce the cost about 10%.
It is possible to enhance or build upon an existing magic item. Only time, gold, and the various prerequisites required of the new ability to be added to the magic item restrict the type of additional powers one can place. If you wish to devote the resources to it, that family heirloom can become a sky-splitting artifact of blinding power. Indeed, GM's should encourage this sort of behavior!  Storied items are fun!


Item Requires Specific Class or Alignment to Use: Even more restrictive than requiring a skill, this limitation cuts the price by 30%.
Simply put, you never lose value by enhancing an existing item.  Calculate the cost of the item as it will exist when you upgrade it.  From that, subtract the cost of the item as it exists now.  The difference is the cost of the upgrade.


Prices presented in the magic item descriptions (the gold piece value following the item's slot) are the market value, which is generally twice what it costs the creator to make the item.
For example: A +1 longsword can be made into a +2 Flaming Longsword, with the cost to create it being equal to that of a +2 flaming sword minus the cost of a +1 longsword.


Since different classes get access to certain spells at different levels, the prices for two characters to make the same item might actually be different. An item is only worth two times what the caster of the lowest possible level can make it for. Calculate the market price based on the lowest possible level caster, no matter who makes the item.
Of course, no magic item may be imbued with an enchantment type that is not permitted in that slot. For example, only shields can be enchanted with [[Shield Magic Properties]] enchantments.


Not all items adhere to these formulas. First and foremost, these few formulas aren't enough to truly gauge the exact differences between items. The price of a magic item may be modified based on its actual worth. The formulas only provide a starting point. The pricing of scrolls assumes that, whenever possible, a wizard or cleric created it. Potions and wands follow the formulas exactly. Staves follow the formulas closely, and other items require at least some judgment calls.
Any item listed in these rules can be Created by the player if they have the resources and skill to do so.


=Custom Magic Items=
While it is incredibly cool to build your own items that do all sorts of cool, interesting stuff, such things are not allowed in Epic Path.  If you want to create your own awesome items, then you will need to work with your Game Master and see if the proposed item is allowed.


== Creating Magic Armor ==
We strongly recommend 'no', but every GM is allowed to run their own game, so if that's what you want to do, go for it!


To create magic armor, a character needs a heat source and some iron, wood, or leatherworking tools. He also needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being the armor or the pieces of the armor to be assembled. Armor to be made into magic armor must be masterwork armor, and the masterwork cost is added to the base price to determine final market value. Additional magic supply costs for the materials are subsumed in the cost for creating the magic armor—half the base price of the item.
== Magic Item Creation ==
 
See the [[Creator (Feat)]] and Bailiwick skills for rules for how to do this.
Creating magic armor has a special prerequisite: The creator's caster level must be at least three times the enhancement bonus of the armor. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met. Magic armor or a magic shield must have at least a 1 enhancement bonus to have any armor or shield special abilities.
 
If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the armor, the creator must have prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the armor triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the armor's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
Creating some armor may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Crafting magic armor requires one day for each 1,000 gp value of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Magic Arms and Armor.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft or Craft (armor).
 
 
== Creating Magic Weapons ==
 
To create a magic weapon, a character needs a heat source and some iron, wood, or leatherworking tools. She also needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being the weapon or the pieces of the weapon to be assembled. Only a masterwork weapon can become a magic weapon, and the masterwork cost is added to the total cost to determine final market value. Additional magic supplies costs for the materials are subsumed in the cost for creating the magic weapon—half the base price of the item based upon the item's total effective bonus.
 
Creating a magic weapon has a special prerequisite: The creator's caster level must be at least three times the enhancement bonus of the weapon. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met. A magic weapon must have at least a 1 enhancement bonus to have any melee or ranged special weapon abilities.
 
If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the weapon, the creator must have prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) but need not provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the weapon triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the weapon's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
At the time of creation, the creator must decide if the weapon glows or not as a side-effect of the magic imbued within it. This decision does not affect the price or the creation time, but once the item is finished, the decision is binding.
 
Creating magic double-headed weapons is treated as creating two weapons when determining cost, time, and special abilities.
 
Creating some weapons may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Crafting a magic weapon requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp value of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Magic Arms and Armor.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft, Craft (bows) (for magic bows and arrows), or Craft (weapons) (for all other weapons).
 
 
 
== Creating Potions ==
Table: Potion Base Costs By Brewer's Class
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Spell Level || Cleric, Druid, Wizard || Sorcerer || Bard || Paladin, Ranger<sup>*</sup>
|-
! 0
| 25 gp || 25 gp || 25 gp || —
|-
! 1st
| 50 gp || 50 gp || 50 gp || 50 gp
|-
! 2nd
| 300 gp || 400 gp || 400 gp || 400 gp
|-
! 3rd
| 750 gp || 900 gp || 1,050 gp || 1,050 gp
|}
* <sup>*</sup> Caster level is equal to class level –3.
* Prices assume that the potion was made at the minimum caster level. The cost to create a potion is half the base price. 
 
The creator of a potion needs a level working surface and at least a few containers in which to mix liquids, as well as a source of heat to boil the brew. In addition, he needs ingredients. The costs for materials and ingredients are subsumed in the cost for brewing the potion: 25 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster.
 
All ingredients and materials used to brew a potion must be fresh and unused. The character must pay the full cost for brewing each potion. (Economies of scale do not apply.)
 
The imbiber of the potion is both the caster and the target. Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions.
 
The creator must have prepared the spell to be placed in the potion (or must know the spell, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any material component or focus the spell requires.
 
Material components are consumed when he begins working, but a focus is not. (a focus used in brewing a potion can be reused.) The act of brewing triggers the prepared spell, making it unavailable for casting until the character has rested and regained spells. (That is, that spell slot is expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if it had been cast.)
 
 
:* Time Required Brewing a potion requires 1 day.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Brew Potion.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft or Craft (alchemy)
 
 
== Creating Rings ==
 
To create a magic ring, a character needs a heat source. He also needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being a ring or the pieces of the ring to be assembled. The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the ring. Ring costs are difficult to determine. Refer to Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values and use the ring prices in the ring descriptions as a guideline. Creating a ring generally costs half the ring's market price.
 
Rings that duplicate spells with costly material components add in the value of 50 × the spell's component cost. Having a spell with a costly component as a prerequisite does not automatically incur this cost. The act of working on the ring triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the ring's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
Creating some rings may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Forging a ring requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Forge Ring.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft or Craft (jewelry).
 
 
== Creating Rods ==
 
To create a magic rod, a character needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being a rod or the pieces of the rod to be assembled. The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the rod. Rod costs are difficult to determine. Refer to Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values and use the rod prices in the rod descriptions as a guideline. Creating a rod costs half the market value listed.
 
If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the rod, the creator must have prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) but need not provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the rod triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the rod's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
Creating some rods may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Crafting a rod requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Rod.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft, Craft (jewelry), Craft (sculptures), or Craft (weapons).
 
 
== Creating Scrolls ==
 
Table: Scroll Base Costs By Scriber's Class
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Spell Level || Cleric, Druid, Wizard || Sorcerer || Bard || Paladin, Ranger<sup>*</sup>
|-
! 0
| 12 gp 5 sp || 12 gp 5 sp || 12 gp 5 sp || —
|-
! 1st
| 25 gp || 25 gp || 25 gp || 25 gp
|-
! 2nd
| 150 gp || 200 gp || 200 gp || 200 gp
|-
! 3rd
| 375 gp || 450 gp || 525 gp || 525 gp
|-
! 4th
| 700 gp || 800 gp || 1,000 gp || 1,000 gp
|-
! 5th
| 1,125 gp || 1,250 gp || 1,625 gp || —
|-
! 6th
| 1,650 gp || 1,800 gp || 2,400 gp || —
|-
! 7th
| 2,275 gp || 2,450 gp || — || —
|-
! 8th
| 3,000 gp || 3,200 gp || — || —
|-
! 9th
| 3,825 gp || 4,050 gp || — || —
|}
* <sup>*</sup> Caster level is equal to class level –3.
* Prices assume that the scroll was made at the minimum caster level. The cost to create a scroll is half the base price. 
 
To create a scroll, a character needs a supply of choice writing materials, the cost of which is subsumed in the cost for scribing the scroll: 12.5 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster.


All writing implements and materials used to scribe a scroll must be fresh and unused. A character must pay the full cost for scribing each spell scroll no matter how many times she previously has scribed the same spell.
There is also useful information on the following pages:
 
The creator must have prepared the spell to be scribed (or must know the spell, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any material component or focus the spell requires. A material component is consumed when she begins writing, but a focus is not. (A focus used in scribing a scroll can be reused.) The act of writing triggers the prepared spell, making it unavailable for casting until the character has rested and regained spells. (That is, that spell slot is expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if it had been cast.)
 
 
:* Time Required Scribing a scroll requires 1 day per 1,000 gp of the base price. Although an individual scroll might contain more than one spell, each spell must be scribed as a separate effort, meaning that no more than 1 spell can be scribed in a day.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Scribe Scroll.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft, Craft (calligraphy), or Profession (scribe).
 
 
== Creating Staves ==
 
To create a magic staff, a character needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being a staff or the pieces of the staff to be assembled.
 
The materials cost is subsumed in the cost of creation: 400 gp × the level of the highest-level spell × the level of the caster, plus 75% of the value of the next most costly ability (300 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster), plus 1/2 the value of any other abilities (200 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster). Staves are always fully charged (10 charges) when created.
 
If desired, a spell can be placed into the staff at less than the normal cost, but then activating that particular spell drains additional charges from the staff. Divide the cost of the spell by the number of charges it consumes to determine its final price. Note that this does not change the order in which the spells are priced (the highest level spell is still priced first, even if it requires more than one charge to activate). The caster level of all spells in a staff must be the same, and no staff can have a caster level of less than 8th, even if all the spells in the staff are low-level spells.
 
The creator must have prepared the spells to be stored (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any focus the spells require as well as material component costs sufficient to activate the spell 50 times (divide this amount by the number of charges one use of the spell expends). Material components are consumed when he begins working, but focuses are not. (A focus used in creating a staff can be reused.) The act of working on the staff triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the staff's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
Creating a few staves may entail other prerequisites beyond spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Crafting a staff requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Staff.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft, Craft (jewelry), Craft (sculptures), or Profession (woodcutter).
 
 
== Creating Runes ==
 
Source: Pathfinder 5: Sins of the Saviors
 
To create a rune, a character needs a supply of arcane inks and scar-inducing irritants. The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the rune. Rune costs are difficult to determine. Refer to Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values use the item prices in the item descriptions as a guideline. Creating a rune costs half the market value listed.
 
If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the rune, the creator must have prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) but need not provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the rune triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the rune's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
 
Creating some rune may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
 
 
:* Time Required Crafting a rune requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp of the base price.
 
:* Feat(s) Required: Inscribe Rune.
 
:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft or an applicable Craft or Profession skill check.
 
 
== Creating Wands ==
 
Table: Wand Base Costs By Crafter's Class
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:right"
! Spell Level || Cleric, Druid, Wizard || Sorcerer || Bard || Paladin, Ranger<sup>*</sup>
|-
! 0
| 375 gp || 375 gp || 375 gp || —
|-
! 1st
| 750 gp || 750 gp || 750 gp || 750 gp
|-
! 2nd
| 4,500 gp || 6,000 gp || 6,000 gp || 6,000 gp
|-
! 3rd
| 11,250 gp || 13,500 gp || 15,750 gp || 15,750 gp
|-
! 4th
| 21,000 gp || 24,000 gp || 30,000 gp || 30,000 gp
|}
* <sup>*</sup> Caster level is equal to class level –3.
* Prices assume that the wand was made at the minimum caster level. The cost to create a wand is half the base price. 


*[[Crafting Magic Armor]]
*[[Magic Shields]]
*[[Magic Weapons]]


To create a magic wand, a character needs a small supply of materials, the most obvious being a baton or the pieces of the wand to be assembled. The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the wand: 375 gp × the level of the spell × the level of the caster. Wands are always fully charged (50 charges) when created.
== Magic Item Creator Level ==
* Every magic item has a creator level (CL). This is the minimum character level required to create the item.  In Epic Path, a character with the [[Creator (Feat)|Creator]] feat has an effective creator level equal to the number of ranks in their bailiwick skill.


The creator must have prepared the spell to be stored (or must know the spell, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) and must provide any focuses the spell requires. Fifty of each needed material component are required (one for each charge). Material components are consumed when work begins, but focuses are not. A focus used in creating a wand can be reused. The act of working on the wand triggers the prepared spell, making it unavailable for casting during each day devoted to the wand's creation. (That is, that spell slot is expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if it had been cast.)
* You may not always know the exact CL of the item you are attempting to create. In such a case, only the GM knows the true CL.


== Creation Requirements ==
* All items have requirements in their descriptions. These requirements must be met for the item to be created. The DC to create a magic item increases by 5 for each requirement the creator does not meet. The only exception to this is the Creator feat, which is mandatory.


:* Time Required Crafting a wand requires 1 day per each 1,000 gp of the base price.
== Magic Item Creation Cost ==
* The cost to make an item yourself with the Creator feat is half of the cost to purchase the same item on the market.  This cost represents the material costs of building the item.  Whether the magic item creation check succeeds or fails, these materials are always used up in the creation process and cannot be recovered.  The cost of a workshop and its tools are not part of the cost of item creation.


:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Wand.
== Making the Creation Check ==
* To create magic items, characters must have the [[Creator]] feat. No exceptions!  The Creator feat represents the innate talent required to handle magic and infuse it into an object, allowing a character to invest time and money in an item's creation.


:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft, Craft (jewelry), Craft (sculptures), or Profession (woodcutter).
[[Image:Workshop_1.png|484px|right|Where did I put that treatise on Time-Spalled Anguishes?]]


===Dual-Slot Items===
Some items can be treated as two different kinds of magic items, and enchanted once for each 'slot' they represent.  The most common example is a double weapon, which occupies the 'main hand' and 'off-hand' slots.  Each end of a double weapon must be enchanted separately, and each end is treated as a separate weapon as regards to properties, etc.  In NO case do any abilities ever stack!  Adding [[Precognitive (Melee Weapon Magic Property)|Precognitive]] to both ends of a staff does NOT allow you to stack twice the AC.  Ever.


== Creating Wondrous Items ==
== Magic Item Slots==
Most magic items need to be donned by a character who wants to employ them or benefit from their abilities. It's possible for a creature with a humanoid-shaped body to wear as many as 15 magic items at the same time, plus another wielded in each hand for a total of 17 magic items. However, each of those items must be worn on (or over) a particular part of the body, known as a "slot."


To create a wondrous item, a character usually needs some sort of equipment or tools to work on the item. She also needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being the item itself or the pieces of the item to be assembled. The cost for the materials is subsumed in the cost for creating the item. Wondrous item costs are difficult to determine. Refer to Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values and use the item prices in the item descriptions as a guideline. Creating an item costs half the market value listed.
A humanoid-shaped body can be decked out in magic gear consisting of one item in each slot, and never more than one item in each slot. Having some slots empty of magic items has no effect.


If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the item, the creator must have prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard) but need not provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the item triggers the prepared spells, making them unavailable for casting during each day of the item's creation. (That is, those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)
; Wielded: Items that are held in the hands. These can be weapons, wands, shields, and numerous other items. Consumable items also require on or both hands to use. Wielded items may require one hand or both hands. See each item for details, or simply use common sense.  The GM adjudicates any unusual circumstances.
; Armor: This slot is used for suits of armor that are worn. Other items may also fit in the armor slot.
; Belts: This slot consists of belts and other items that can be worn around the waist.
; Body: This slot consists of cassocks, coats/overcoats, harnesses, robes, vestments and any other article of clothing that is large and loose, or very, very tight, over the entire body.
; Chest: This slot consists of shirts, corsets, body wraps, bandages, and other items that can be worn tightly against the torso or chest.
; Eyes: This slot consists of goggles, lenses, monocles, spectacles, masks and other items that can be worn over the eyes.
; Feet: This slot consists of boots, footwraps, sandals, shoes, slippers, and other items that can be worn on the feet.
; Hands: This slot consists of gauntlets, gloves, and other items that can worn on the hands.
; Head: This slot consists of circlets, crowns, hats, helms, hoods and other items that can be worn on the head.
; Headband: This slot consists of bands, headbands, laurels, phylacteries, and other non-head slot items that can be worn around the forehead.
; Neck: This slot consists of amulets, brooches, medallions, necklaces, periapts, scarabs, and other items that can be worn around the neck or fastened to a cloak.
; Ring (up to two): rings worn around the fingers... or... other appendages. Normally one per hand.
; Shield: This slot is for carried shields.  Note that a carried shield uses the same slot as a wielded weapon, and while it is possible to 'stack' these items, there are penalties for doing so, including the loss of all bonuses provided by the shield in any round that the wielded weapon sharing the shield's hand is used to attack. This also occurs if the shield is used as a weapon, using shield bash.
; Shoulders: This slot consists of capes, cloaks, cords, mantels, pauldrons, shawls, stoles, wings, and other items that can be worn on the shoulders.
; Wrists: This slot consists of armbands, bracelets, bracers, gauntlets, manacles, shackles, vambraces, and other items that can worn over the wrists.
; Slotless: Items not worn or carried in one of the above slots are called "slotless" items. Sometimes these items take the form of trinkets, like figurines of wondrous power. Typically the possession of such an item is enough to gain its benefit, but sometimes one must manipulate and/or activate the item.
; Consumables: Consumable magic items are slotless, but have no effect until consumed. These items include potions, scrolls, alchemical creations and ammunition.


Creating some items may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting. See the individual descriptions for details.
Each of these items must be wielded, worn, or consumed, depending on the item, in order to gain their benefits. If an item is worn, it takes up one of the body's magic item slots and no additional items of the same slot may be worn there. If it is wielded, it takes up one or two hands.


Magic rings, boots, hats, cloaks and basically "everything else" that isn't a weapon, armor, shield, rod, staff, wand or consumable magic item is considered a wondrous item.  For those of you who need a tramp stamp, tattoo, rune or other weird atypical magic item, those are all treated like slotless wondrous items.


:* Time Required Crafting a wondrous item requires 1 day for each 1,000 gp of the base price.
Magic items in each slot may only be enchanted with specific bonus types, to prevent stacking absurdities.  As a rule of thumb, no magic items should stack with other magic items. Doing so quickly breaks the game, so don't do it. The GM is always the final decider on whether anything is allowed to stack with anything else.  


:* Feat(s) Required: Craft Wondrous Item.
Of course, a character may carry or possess as many items of the same type as he wishes. However, only one item may be worn in a particular body slot, and additional items of the same body slot type grant no benefits to the character unless they swap out the other item first.


:* Skill(s) Required: Spellcraft or an applicable Craft or Profession skill check.
The exception to this rule is slotless items, which can be worn or carried without taking up a slot on a character's body. The description of an item indicates when it has this property.

Latest revision as of 20:58, 30 November 2019

"Nope," said the rogue, "that room was completely empty."


Magic Item Pricing

If you want to buy an item that isn't listed on the Epic Path page (such as something listed on d20pfsrd), you must first get GM approval for the item. If it is approved, use the following pricing model, based on the caster level of the item.

Exceptions:

  • Any item which grants armor class costs double the listed value for its caster level.
  • Any item which grants a bonus to-hit costs quadruple the listed value for its caster level.
  • Any slotless item costs triple the listed value for its caster level.
  • You cannot buy any item from another site/source that already exists on the Epic Path page.

All of this is a stop-gap until the magic items on the Epic Path page have been built up to the point where we can safely say you cannot buy anything from other sites/sources.

Caster Level Cost
1 2,200
2 5,600
3 10,000
4 16,000
5 25,000
6 37,600
7 56,000
8 96,600
9 180,000
10 320,000
11 570,000
12 1,000,000
13 1,750,000
14 3,100,000
15 5,450,000
16 7,200,000
17 9,450,000
18 12,500,000
19 16,550,000
20 22,050,000

Who Can Create Magic Items?

In Epic Path, any character who has the skills, talents, and resources may create magic items.

  • The Paladin praying before an altar, literally sweating blood from the force of her faithful devotion? She's making that amulet with her Divinity.
  • The Fighter crisping at an anvil as he welds honest steel to dragon claws in a fire fueled by an elemental? He can use his Warfare for this job.
  • The Ranger standing in a forgotten grotto, singing as she weaves a cloak out of dryad hair and assassin-vines? She's using Naturalism.
  • The Rogue hiding in a bell tower, stealing chimes from the Great Bell to power her new Chime of Opening? That's Spycraft she's using to steal that magic.
  • The Monk meditating under a waterfall, infusing his Gauntlets with the pounding might of the plunging river? He's using his Reason to capture that power.
  • And yes, that Wizard casting spells in his tower as he labors over dusty tomes of lore? He's using boring old Spellcraft to get the job done.

They're ALL making things, and there's nothing any more or less magical about any of these methods of production.

Pre-Built Magic Items

Numerous pre-built magic items exist in Epic Path. The costs for these magic items is listed in each item's writeup, as are the costs and requirements for a character with the Creator Feat to build one of those items for themselves. Doing so costs the character some time in-game, which is time they cannot adventure or do other activities, but they can save a considerable amount of coin. Whether this is worth it to you depends upon the game, and we encourage all players and Game Masters to explore as many styles of play as they wish.

Upgrading Existing Items

It is certainly true that getting a new, shiny item is a thrill. Many players greatly enjoy getting or making brand new magic items. There are also players who like their existing items. They have built back-story into an item, and it is now a part of the lore of their character. A classic example is the heirloom sword, passed down for generations, that the character has sworn to use. Sadly, that +2 Scimitar with the fancy engraving that was so awesome and overpowered at level 4, is seeming a little...under-performing at level 14. Is the story-builder player just out of luck, stuck with an increasingly weaker weapon as they continue their career?

Of course not!

It is possible to enhance or build upon an existing magic item. Only time, gold, and the various prerequisites required of the new ability to be added to the magic item restrict the type of additional powers one can place. If you wish to devote the resources to it, that family heirloom can become a sky-splitting artifact of blinding power. Indeed, GM's should encourage this sort of behavior! Storied items are fun!

Simply put, you never lose value by enhancing an existing item. Calculate the cost of the item as it will exist when you upgrade it. From that, subtract the cost of the item as it exists now. The difference is the cost of the upgrade.

For example: A +1 longsword can be made into a +2 Flaming Longsword, with the cost to create it being equal to that of a +2 flaming sword minus the cost of a +1 longsword.

Of course, no magic item may be imbued with an enchantment type that is not permitted in that slot. For example, only shields can be enchanted with Shield Magic Properties enchantments.

Any item listed in these rules can be Created by the player if they have the resources and skill to do so.

Custom Magic Items

While it is incredibly cool to build your own items that do all sorts of cool, interesting stuff, such things are not allowed in Epic Path. If you want to create your own awesome items, then you will need to work with your Game Master and see if the proposed item is allowed.

We strongly recommend 'no', but every GM is allowed to run their own game, so if that's what you want to do, go for it!

Magic Item Creation

See the Creator (Feat) and Bailiwick skills for rules for how to do this.

There is also useful information on the following pages:

Magic Item Creator Level

  • Every magic item has a creator level (CL). This is the minimum character level required to create the item. In Epic Path, a character with the Creator feat has an effective creator level equal to the number of ranks in their bailiwick skill.
  • You may not always know the exact CL of the item you are attempting to create. In such a case, only the GM knows the true CL.

Creation Requirements

  • All items have requirements in their descriptions. These requirements must be met for the item to be created. The DC to create a magic item increases by 5 for each requirement the creator does not meet. The only exception to this is the Creator feat, which is mandatory.

Magic Item Creation Cost

  • The cost to make an item yourself with the Creator feat is half of the cost to purchase the same item on the market. This cost represents the material costs of building the item. Whether the magic item creation check succeeds or fails, these materials are always used up in the creation process and cannot be recovered. The cost of a workshop and its tools are not part of the cost of item creation.

Making the Creation Check

  • To create magic items, characters must have the Creator feat. No exceptions! The Creator feat represents the innate talent required to handle magic and infuse it into an object, allowing a character to invest time and money in an item's creation.
Where did I put that treatise on Time-Spalled Anguishes?

Dual-Slot Items

Some items can be treated as two different kinds of magic items, and enchanted once for each 'slot' they represent. The most common example is a double weapon, which occupies the 'main hand' and 'off-hand' slots. Each end of a double weapon must be enchanted separately, and each end is treated as a separate weapon as regards to properties, etc. In NO case do any abilities ever stack! Adding Precognitive to both ends of a staff does NOT allow you to stack twice the AC. Ever.

Magic Item Slots

Most magic items need to be donned by a character who wants to employ them or benefit from their abilities. It's possible for a creature with a humanoid-shaped body to wear as many as 15 magic items at the same time, plus another wielded in each hand for a total of 17 magic items. However, each of those items must be worn on (or over) a particular part of the body, known as a "slot."

A humanoid-shaped body can be decked out in magic gear consisting of one item in each slot, and never more than one item in each slot. Having some slots empty of magic items has no effect.

Wielded
Items that are held in the hands. These can be weapons, wands, shields, and numerous other items. Consumable items also require on or both hands to use. Wielded items may require one hand or both hands. See each item for details, or simply use common sense. The GM adjudicates any unusual circumstances.
Armor
This slot is used for suits of armor that are worn. Other items may also fit in the armor slot.
Belts
This slot consists of belts and other items that can be worn around the waist.
Body
This slot consists of cassocks, coats/overcoats, harnesses, robes, vestments and any other article of clothing that is large and loose, or very, very tight, over the entire body.
Chest
This slot consists of shirts, corsets, body wraps, bandages, and other items that can be worn tightly against the torso or chest.
Eyes
This slot consists of goggles, lenses, monocles, spectacles, masks and other items that can be worn over the eyes.
Feet
This slot consists of boots, footwraps, sandals, shoes, slippers, and other items that can be worn on the feet.
Hands
This slot consists of gauntlets, gloves, and other items that can worn on the hands.
Head
This slot consists of circlets, crowns, hats, helms, hoods and other items that can be worn on the head.
Headband
This slot consists of bands, headbands, laurels, phylacteries, and other non-head slot items that can be worn around the forehead.
Neck
This slot consists of amulets, brooches, medallions, necklaces, periapts, scarabs, and other items that can be worn around the neck or fastened to a cloak.
Ring (up to two)
rings worn around the fingers... or... other appendages. Normally one per hand.
Shield
This slot is for carried shields. Note that a carried shield uses the same slot as a wielded weapon, and while it is possible to 'stack' these items, there are penalties for doing so, including the loss of all bonuses provided by the shield in any round that the wielded weapon sharing the shield's hand is used to attack. This also occurs if the shield is used as a weapon, using shield bash.
Shoulders
This slot consists of capes, cloaks, cords, mantels, pauldrons, shawls, stoles, wings, and other items that can be worn on the shoulders.
Wrists
This slot consists of armbands, bracelets, bracers, gauntlets, manacles, shackles, vambraces, and other items that can worn over the wrists.
Slotless
Items not worn or carried in one of the above slots are called "slotless" items. Sometimes these items take the form of trinkets, like figurines of wondrous power. Typically the possession of such an item is enough to gain its benefit, but sometimes one must manipulate and/or activate the item.
Consumables
Consumable magic items are slotless, but have no effect until consumed. These items include potions, scrolls, alchemical creations and ammunition.

Each of these items must be wielded, worn, or consumed, depending on the item, in order to gain their benefits. If an item is worn, it takes up one of the body's magic item slots and no additional items of the same slot may be worn there. If it is wielded, it takes up one or two hands.

Magic rings, boots, hats, cloaks and basically "everything else" that isn't a weapon, armor, shield, rod, staff, wand or consumable magic item is considered a wondrous item. For those of you who need a tramp stamp, tattoo, rune or other weird atypical magic item, those are all treated like slotless wondrous items.

Magic items in each slot may only be enchanted with specific bonus types, to prevent stacking absurdities. As a rule of thumb, no magic items should stack with other magic items. Doing so quickly breaks the game, so don't do it. The GM is always the final decider on whether anything is allowed to stack with anything else.

Of course, a character may carry or possess as many items of the same type as he wishes. However, only one item may be worn in a particular body slot, and additional items of the same body slot type grant no benefits to the character unless they swap out the other item first.

The exception to this rule is slotless items, which can be worn or carried without taking up a slot on a character's body. The description of an item indicates when it has this property.